Equipment rack support bracket for power distribution units

ABSTRACT

A bracket shaped to support and position equipment such as an exemplary power distribution unit in various orientations in an equipment rack. The bracket has a number of slots to receive mounting screws for coupling the bracket to the equipment rack and to the equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to equipment racks.

2. Description of the Related Art

Equipment racks support various types of equipment and patch panels. The equipment typically can have power cords that are each plugged into an electrical power outlet to receive electrical power from the power outlet. Power distribution units having electrical power outlets can be used in conjunction with equipment in racks to furnish electrical power to the equipment by having the power cords of the equipment plugged into the electrical outlets of the power distribution units.

Power distribution units are manufactured in various shapes and sizes and occupy space that may otherwise be used for equipment and patch panels in an equipment rack or may block access to equipment and patch panels that are positioned in an equipment rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an equipment rack support bracket for a power distribution unit.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 along with fragmentary perspective views of an equipment rack and a rear side of a power distribution unit in a first stage of assembly of a first attachment orientation.

FIG. 4 is a front face perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 along with fragmentary perspective views of the equipment rack and the rear side of the power distribution unit of FIG. 3 in a second stage of assembly of the first attachment orientation.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the power distribution unit with two of the brackets of FIG. 1 connected to the power distribution unit in the first attachment orientation.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the two brackets in the first attachment orientation.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in the first attachment orientation shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a second attachment orientation.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a third attachment orientation.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a fourth attachment orientation.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket FIG. 1 in a fifth attachment orientation.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a sixth attachment orientation.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a seventh attachment orientation.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the power distribution unit coupled to the equipment rack by the bracket of FIG. 1 in a eighth attachment orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described herein a bracket is so shaped to support and position equipment such as an exemplary power distribution unit in various orientations in an equipment rack. The bracket has a number of slots to receive mounting screws to be coupled to the equipment rack.

An exemplary implementation of a bracket 100 is shown from a front perspective view in FIG. 1 as having a first plate portion 102 and a second plate portion 104 rigidly connected together. The first plate portion 102 has a free first end 106, a second end 108, a first side 110, and a second side 112 (shown in FIG. 2). Further shown in FIG. 1, the first plate portion 102 has a first elongated opening or slot 114 positioned near and extending substantially parallel to the first end 106, a second slot 116 extending substantially parallel with the first slot, and between the first slot and the second end 108 a third slot 118 extending substantially parallel with the second slot and between the second slots and the second end, and a fourth slot 120 extending substantially parallel with the third slot and between the second slot and the second end and positioned near the second end. A fifth slot 122 transversely extends from the second slot 116 to the fourth slot 120 and intersects the third slot 118 positioned therebetween. The fifth slot 122 includes an enlarged opening 124 positioned between the second slot 116 and the third slot 118 and an enlarged opening 126 positioned between the third slot 118 and the fourth slot 120.

The second plate portion 104 shares the second end 108 of the first plate portion 102 and extends from the second end substantially transverse to the first plate portion to substantially form an “L” shape for the bracket 100. In other implementations, the second plate portion 104 may extend from the first plate portion 102 at other angles. In other implementations, the second plate portion 104 may be absent from the bracket 100 as discussed further below. The second plate portion 104 includes a first side 128 and a second side 130. The second plate portion 104 also includes a free second end 132, and a first slot 134 extending substantially parallel to and near the second end.

In a first attachment orientation shown in FIG. 3, the second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is placed adjacent with an exterior side 136 of a forward extending portion 138 of an equipment rack support wall 140 so at least part of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket is parallel to and in juxtaposition with an interior laterally extending portion 142 of the support wall. The forward extending portion 138 of the support wall 140 has holes 144 to receive bolts or screws or other rack attachment members that are positioned through the first slot 134 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 and subsequently secured in the holes. In the first attachment orientation, the elongated nature of the first slot 134 of the second plate portion 104 allows for adjustment of the position of the bracket 100 along the longitudinal dimension 148 of the support wall 140.

A power distribution unit 150 is further shown in FIG. 3 as having a rear side 152 with a hole 154 fashioned to receive an equipment attachment member, such as a thumb screw 156 having a head 158, for mounting the power distribution unit to the bracket 100. The enlarged opening 124 and the enlarged opening 126 of the fifth slot 122 are sized larger than the head 158 to receive the head 158 when the screw 156 is threadably coupled with the hole 154 to facilitate mounting of the power distribution unit 150 to the bracket 100 as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly process of the power distribution unit 150 and the bracket 100.

The power distribution unit 150 is shown in FIG. 5 coupled with the bracket 100 having the screw 156 positioned with the third slot 118 of the first plate portion 102. The screw 156 could alternatively be positioned in the first slot 114 or the second slot 116 depending on the attachment orientation desired. The first slot 114, the second slot 116, and the third slot 118 have an elongated shape with a width smaller than the head 158 to provide adjustment of the positioning of the power distribution unit 150 along the longitudinal dimension 148 of the support wall 140 when the screw 156 is positioned in the slot.

The power distribution unit 150, having outlets 161, is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 as coupled to an equipment rack 160 having the support wall 140 with the forward extending portion 138 and the interior laterally extending portion 142. The second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the exterior side 136 of the forward extending portion 138 of the wall. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit in front of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing forward away from the equipment rack. Also shown in FIG. 7 is an interior side 162 of the forward extending portion 138, a forward side 164 of the interior laterally extending portion 142 and a rearward side 166 of the interior laterally extending portion.

A second attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 8 with the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 attached to the forward extending portion 138 of the equipment rack 160. The second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the interior side 162 of the forward extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 1 50 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit generally laterally outward of and to a side of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing forward away from the equipment rack.

A third attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 9 with the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 attached to the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160. The second side 130 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the forward side 164 of the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit inside of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing laterally inward away from the support wall 140.

A fourth attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 10 with the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 attached to the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160. The first side 128 of the second plate portion 104 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the forward side 164 of the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit generally in front of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing laterally inward away from the support wall 140.

In the following attachment orientations described below the screws 146 are positioned through the first slot 114 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100. A fifth attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 11 with the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 attached to the forward extending portion 138 of the equipment rack 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the exterior side 136 of the forward extending portion 138 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. In attachment orientations, such as the fifth attachment orientation, some implementations of the bracket 100 may not have the second plate portion 104 since the second plate portion is not being used. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit generally laterally outward of and to a side of the equipment rack 160 and forward of the equipment rack, with the outlets 161 facing laterally away from the support wall 140.

A sixth attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 12 with the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 attached to the forward extending portion 138 of the equipment rack 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the interior side 162 of the forward extending portion 138 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit generally laterally inward and forward of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing laterally forward away from the support wall 140.

A seventh attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 13 with the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 attached to the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the forward side 164 of the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit generally in front of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing forward away from the equipment rack.

An eighth attachment orientation is shown in FIG. 14 with the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 attached to the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the equipment rack 160. The second side 112 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 is adjacent the rearward side 166 of the interior laterally extending portion 142 of the support wall 140 of the equipment rack 160. The rear side 152 of the power distribution unit 150 is adjacent the first side 110 of the first plate portion 102 of the bracket 100 and consequently positions the power distribution unit inside of the equipment rack 160 with the outlets 161 facing rearward.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A bracket comprising: a plate portion having a first end and a second end, the plate portion having: an elongated first opening having a first width and positioned near and extending along the first end, an elongated second opening having a second width and extending along the elongated first opening, an elongated third opening having the second width and extending along the elongated second opening, and a fourth opening coupled with the elongated second opening and the elongated third opening and transversely extending from the elongated second opening to the elongated third opening, the fourth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent the elongated second opening, having a second portion with the second width adjacent the elongated third opening, and a third portion wider than the second width and extending between the first portion and the second portion of the fourth opening.
 2. The bracket of claim 1 further including a second plate portion extending from the second end of the first plate portion at an angle greater than zero and less then 180 degrees, the second plate portion having a free end and an elongated opening extending along the free end.
 3. The bracket of claim 2 wherein the second plate portion extends from the first plate portion at an angle of substantially 90 degrees.
 4. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the plate portion has an elongated fifth opening having the second width and extending substantially along the elongated third opening, and the plate portion has a sixth opening coupled with the elongated third opening and the elongated fifth opening and transversely extending from the third elongated opening to the elongated fifth opening, the sixth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent the elongated third opening, a second portion having the second width adjacent the elongated fifth opening, and a third portion wider than the second width and extending between the first portion and the second portion of the sixth opening.
 5. A bracket comprising: a first plate portion having a first end and a second end, the first plate portion having: an elongated first opening having a first width and positioned near and extending along the first end, an elongated second opening having the first width and extending along the elongated first opening, a third opening coupled with the elongated first opening and the elongated second opening and transversely extending from the elongated first opening to the elongated second opening, the third opening having a first portion with the first width adjacent the elongated first opening, a second portion with the first width adjacent the elongated second opening, and a third portion wider than the first width and extending between the first portion and the second portion of the third opening; and a second plate portion extending at an angle greater than zero and less than 180 degrees from the second end of the first plate portion, the second plate portion having a free end and having an elongated opening extending along the free end, the elongated opening having a second width.
 6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the second plate portion extends from the first plate portion at an angle of substantially 90 degrees.
 7. The bracket of claim 6 wherein the first plate portion is larger than the second plate portion to form an “L” shape.
 8. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the first plate portion has an elongated fourth opening extending along the first end, at a position between the elongated first opening and the first end, the elongated fourth opening having the second width.
 9. A system for an equipment rack having elongated members with rack holes for coupling with equipment, the system comprising: an equipment attachment member having a stem portion and an enlarged head portion; a rack attachment member having a stem portion sized to extend through a rack hole and an enlarged head portion; an equipment having a side, the side having a hole sized and shaped to receive the stem portion of the equipment attachment member; a plate portion having a first end and a second end, the plate portion having: a elongated first opening having a first width and positioned near and extending along the first end, the first width sized to allow the stem portion of the rack attachment member to extend through the elongated first opening and prevent the head portion of the rack attachment member from passing through the elongated first opening, an elongated second opening with a second width and extending substantially along the elongated first opening, the second width sized to allow the stem portion of the equipment attachment portion to extend through the elongated second opening and prevent the head portion of the equipment attachment member from passing through the elongated second opening; an elongated third opening having the second width and extending substantially along the elongated second opening, and a fourth opening coupled with the elongated second opening and the elongated third opening and extending from the elongated second opening to the elongated third opening, the fourth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent the elongated second opening, a second portion with the second width adjacent the elongated third opening, and a third portion wider than the second width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion of the fourth opening.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the head portion of the rack attachment member is fixedly attached to the stem portion of the rack attachment member
 11. The system of claim 9 wherein the head portion of the equipment attachment member is fixedly attached to the stem portion of the equipment attachment member.
 12. The system of claim 9 wherein the equipment is a power distribution unit.
 13. The system of claim 9 wherein equipment attachment member is a thumbscrew and the rack attachment member is a bolt.
 14. The bracket of claim 9 further including a second plate portion extending from the second end of the first plate portion in a non-planar arrangement, the second plate portion having a free end and an elongated opening extending along the free end.
 15. The bracket of claim 14 wherein the second plate portion extends from the first plate portion at substantially a 90 degree angle.
 16. The bracket of claim 9 wherein the plate portion has an elongated fifth opening with the second width and extending along the elongated third opening, and the plate portion has a sixth opening coupled with the elongated third opening and the elongated fifth opening and transversely extending from the elongated third opening to the elongated fifth opening, the sixth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent the elongated third opening, a second portion having the second width adjacent the elongated fifth opening, and a third portion wider than the second width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion of the sixth opening.
 17. A system for an equipment rack having elongated members with rack holes for coupling with equipment, the system comprising: an equipment attachment member having a stem portion and an enlarged head portion; a rack attachment member having a stem portion sized to extend through a rack hole and an enlarged head portion; an equipment having a side, the side having a hole sized and shaped to receive the stem portion of the equipment attachment member; a first plate portion having a first end and a second end, the plate portion having: an elongated first opening having a first width and positioned near and extending along the first end, the first width sized to allow the stem portion of the equipment attachment member to extend through the elongated first opening and prevent the head portion of the equipment attachment member from passing through the elongated first opening, an elongated second opening having the first width and extending along the first elongated opening, a third opening coupled with the elongated first opening and the elongated second opening and extending from the elongated first opening to the elongated second opening, the third opening having a first portion with the first width adjacent the elongated first opening, a second portion having the first width adjacent the elongated second opening, and a third portion wider than the first width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion of the third opening; and a second plate portion extending in a non-planar arrangement from the second end of the first plate portion, the second plate portion having a free end and having an elongated fourth opening extending along the free end, the elongated fourth opening having a second width, the second width sized to allow the stem portion of the rack attachment member to extent through the elongated opening and prevent the head portion of the rack attachment member from passing through the elongated fourth opening.
 18. The bracket of claim 17 wherein the second plate portion extends from the first plate portion at substantially a 90 degree angle.
 19. The bracket of claim 17 wherein the first plate portion has an elongated fifth opening having the second width and extending along the elongated second opening, and the first plate portion has an elongated fifth opening coupled with the elongated second opening and the elongated fourth opening and extending from the elongated second opening to the elongated fourth opening, the fifth opening having a first portion with the second width adjacent the elongated second opening, a second portion with the second width adjacent the elongated fourth opening, and a third portion wider than the second width and sufficient to allow the head of the equipment attachment member to pass through the third portion, the third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion of the elongated fifth opening. 